Alabama shares details of historic operation, partnership to fight fentanyl epidemic

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WBRC) – In an effort to combat the fentanyl epidemic ravaging communities across America, Governor Kay Ivey and the state of Alabama have joined forces with the state of Virginia to participate in Operation Free, a law enforcement initiative.

The operation began on September 15 and ended on October 31. Governor Ivey called the partnership “historic.”

During Operation Free, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and members of the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force (ADETF) seized more than 48,800 grams of illegal drugs. Approximately 1,700 grams were fentanyl.

State Rep. Rex Reynolds (District 21) was part of that task force and says he’s proud to have taken drugs off the streets, but he’s also proud of efforts by state lawmakers to increase penalties against fentanyl dealers, invest in drug addiction treatment and educate kids from an early age about the harm of these drugs.

“We’ve lost a lot of Alabamians to fentanyl, and now we’re seeing not only pure fentanyl, but other drugs laced with fentanyl, so we need to educate our youth about the dangers and deter them from being exposed,” said Rep. Reynolds.

He also says Alabama’s fight against fentanyl is far from over.

“We feel like this operation will pick up after the start of the year, and so we’re certainly looking forward to learning the best practices from the few weeks we’ve been through now, and then we’ll be ready to pick up the pace and join the partnership and target fentanyl for sale in our streets,” said Representative Reynolds.

To learn more about how to protect yourself, your family and your community, visit It only takes one.

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